NEW ORLEANS—David Akers is a six-time All-Pro who nailed an NFL record-tying 63-yard field goal in the first game of the season. But you wouldn’t know he was such an accomplished veteran with how the San Francisco 49ers’ kicker has been treated as he prepares to kick in his second Super Bowl.

All week, the 38-year-old has fielded questions about what has been the most uncharacteristic, most trying season of his long, fine career. After making an NFL-record 44 field goals in 2011, he converted only 29 of 42 attempts in 2012. In the NFC championship win over the Atlanta Falcons, he missed a 38-yarder in the Georgia Dome.

After Akers’ inconsistent regular season, the 49ers added some playoff insurance with of all kickers, former Raven Billy Cundiff—who missed a potential game-tying attempt in last year’s AFC championship game. The Niners, however, ended up cutting Cundiff and have faith—despite what happened indoors in Atlanta—that Akers will deliver against the Baltimore Ravens in the Superdome on Sunday.

"He's been hitting the ball very well. He's had some really good hits on the ball that haven't gone through and we'll live with that," coach Jim Harbaugh said Thursday. "We know what he's capable of doing. We know as long as he's going through his process, practicing, working at it that we'll get the results. We're very confident he'll have a big day in the Super Bowl.”

Just how big was Akers’ season in ’11? His 166 total points shattered the 49ers’ individual scoring mark, set by Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice (138 points) in 1987. In the offseason, however, Akers battled through a tough rehabilitation after double hernia surgery. Following what Harbaugh called “a wicked-hot start,” the coach noted it was a “grind” for Akers through much of ’12.

“I’m hoping he can somehow dig deep and be the Akers of old,” Rice said. “He had no problems when he was breaking my record—everything went through the uprights. He’s struggled a bit this year, but it might come down to that.”

Akers pointed to the ball that hit the upright against the Falcons as an “odd situation,” where the snap, hold and his kick all didn’t quite come together as expected.

“You try to figure out what the situation was and why it happened,” Akers said. “But there aren’t excuses—there are reasons, whether it was a technique issue, weather issue or footing issue,” Akers said. “We’ve got to work together real well, and I’ve got to finish it.”

Every kicker is different, and the left-footed Akers likens himself to a golfer who keeps working to find his most effective stroke. At the same time, Akers tries to avoid the mental clutter when it comes down to physical execution.

“You kind of have to see what recipe works for you,” Akers said. “The biggest thing is to take your mind out of it and just let your body kind of react if it all possible.”

The 63-yarder that helped beat the Packers in the opener was the greatest moment of Akers’ rough 14th year in the NFL. But none of Akers’ misses that have occurred since Week 1 will be remembered if Akers hits on a critical kick or two in the Super Bowl.